Big 12 power rankings: Top three remains unchanged but Oklahoma passes TCU for No. 4 spot

Despite impressive wins by Texas and West Virginia, Kansas State holds onto the top spot, although their reign atop these power rankings may be short-lived. The Wildcats should cruise past Kansas this weekend but the winner of the Texas-West Virginia game in Austin this weekend may assume the No. 1 spot here next week. Collin Klein has thrown for and rushed for five touchdowns apiece this year. Only Oklahoma State’s Joseph Randle has more rushing touchdowns. Kansas State gets arguably the worst two teams in the conference (Kansas, Iowa State) these next two weeks.

2. Texas (4-0, 1-0)

The Longhorns don’t move up because of it, but they got a solid win in Stillwater this past weekend, beating Oklahoma State, 41-36, on Saturday night. David Ash became the fourth quarterback in school history to throw for 300 yards in consecutive games and the Texas defense, while still missing too many tackles, bended without breaking. The Cowboys got three field goals in five red zone trips.

3. West Virginia (4-0, 1-0)

West Virginia got record performances from its three offensive stalwarts — Geno Smith (656 yards, eight touchdowns), Tavon Austin (14 catches, 215 yards two touchdowns), and Stedman Bailey (13 catches, 303 yards, 5 touchdowns) — in a 70-63 win over Baylor in its Big 12 opener on Saturday in Morgantown. The Mountaineers will face a much stiffer test when they travel to Austin this weekend.

4. Oklahoma (2-1, 0-1)

Oklahoma did not play last weekend but has plenty of chance to move up in these power rankings over the next few weeks. The Sooners face Texas in the Red River Rivalry in two weeks — a huge game for Oklahoma, especially if Texas beats West Virginia — and go up against unbeaten Notre Dame two weeks after that.

5. TCU (4-0, 1-0)

The Horned Frogs have been incredible on defense this season but have not met expectations on offense, failing to score at least 30 points in any of their three games against FBS foes. Since trouncing Grambling State, 56-0, in its season opener, TCU has scored 20 points against a Kansas team that is allowing 27 points per game, 27 points against a Virginia squad that is surrendering 32.4 points per game, and 24 points against an SMU team that is 32.8 points per game.

6. Baylor (3-1, 0-1)

As good as Robert Griffin III was last year when he won the Heisman Trophy, he never threw for as many yards in a game as Nick Florence did when he passed for a school-record 581 yards and five touchdowns in a 70-63 loss to West Virginia last weekend. Terrance Williams also set a Big 12 record with 314 yards on 17 receptions as the Bears racked up 700 yards of total offense, the second-most in a loss in FBS history. They don’t have much time to dwell on the defeat as they face TCU and Texas in their next two games.

7. Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-1)

The Cowboys joined Kansas as the only teams in the conference with multiple losses but left T. Boone Pickens Stadium to a standing ovation. They were literally inches away from beating Texas as Joe Bergeron came close to losing a fumble on the go-ahead two-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the 41-36 Texas win. True freshman J.W. Walsh’s 301-yard, two-touchdown performance in his first career start is encouraging, though.

8. Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0)

Texas Tech is well on its way toward earning a bowl berth that eluded them a year ago after beating Iowa State, 24-16, in Ames this past Saturday. The Red Raiders are now 4-0 and have a chance to match their win total from last season with their next win but it could be a while. Their next five opponents make for a daunting gauntlet: vs. Oklahoma, vs. West Virginia, at TCU, at Kansas State, vs. Texas. Texas Tech is allowing an FBS-best 167.5 yards per game.

9. Iowa State (3-1, 0-1)

The Cyclones had a chance to start out the year 4-0 and looked poised to capitalize on it after linebacker A.J. Klein’s 87-yard interception return for a touchdown. But Texas Tech ended the game by scoring 17 unanswered points as Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz completed just 10 of his 20 passes for 73 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.

10. Kansas (1-3, 0-1)

The Jayhawks got a week off after a disappointing first month of their season. They travel to Manhattan this week to take on Kansas State before hosting Oklahoma State the following week. It’s hard to see Kansas winning any more than three games this season.